"Body dark brown with yellow lateral abdominal stripes. Some individuals have a triangular brown basal spot in HW; spot does not reach rear margin and seldom reaches nodus." (Sidney W. Dunkle. Dragonflies through Binoculars, p. 142-143)

"Common baskettails with extensive markings on the hindwing are similar [to the Mantled baskettail], but these markings do not reach the hind margin of the wing and rarely extend out to the nodus [as the marking on the hind wing of this individual does not]."

Compare the Common Baskettail and the Mantled Baskettail.